Rep. Valerie Gaydos has been a leader in fighting to make government more efficient, transparent and accountable to the citizens of the Commonwealth. She was elected to serve her third term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2022 and will continue to be committed to putting her experience from the private sector to work to help grow the state’s economy and improve opportunities for employers and employees across the Commonwealth.
Valerie started her own company in 1994, an information publishing company that sold financial data to subscribers. She went on to invest in other successful startup companies and became a well-known startup business advocate and angel investor who has helped small businesses succeed and create jobs across the country.
In recognition of her strong support for pro-business legislation, she has earned consecutive “Guardian of Small Business” awards from the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and was named by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve on the Small Business Council within the Department of Community and Economic Development to assist with developing policies and regulations that might affect small businesses, which contain fewer than 100 employees. In addition, Valerie was named to the board of directors for Team Pennsylvania and America250PA, and is the chair of the House Life Sciences Caucus, the House Cancer Caucus and House Cyber Security Caucus. She is also a member of other active caucuses including Economic Growth, Emerging Technologies, Homeowners Association, and Manufacturing caucuses. Her accolades continue. Prior to getting elected she was the first woman president of the Pennsylvania Angel Network.
Valerie has been assigned to serve on the House Government Oversight, Liquor Control (Secretary), Commerce and Professional Licensure committees for the 2023-24 Legislative Session.
To date, three of her bills have been signed into law, including
Act 38 of 2022, which will allow the state to use the expertise of the Pennsylvania National Guard to respond to cyber crises and subvert cyber intrusion. Her other laws include:
Act 45 of 2021, which will better protect the victims of human trafficking; and
Act 67 of 2020, which will increase transparency and consumer choice in the prescription drug marketplace.
Valerie is committed to improving the quality of life for all residents and making sure our children have the best education available. As part of her legislative priorities, she will continue to protect our state and national constitutions and advocate for state’s rights, Second Amendment rights, and taxpayers rights. She will also strive to reduce the size of government, and focus on mental health and wellness for all Pennsylvanians.
Supplementing her work with the small business community, job creators, and schools and universities, Valerie serves on the advisory committee for Standing Firm, an organization aimed at ending partner violence; a guardian and advisor for the Pittsburgh Honor Flight Network, which helps take veterans to Washington, D.C., to tour war memorials; and a member of Firearms Owners Against Crime. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, nature lover and dog rescue volunteer.